An inquest into the death of a writer who was swept to his death on New Year's Day will take place today.

Harry Jack Swordy, 27, died after being washed out to sea off Loe Bar, near Porthleven in Cornwall, in the first hours of 2014.

Mr Swordy, from Guildford, Surrey, is believed to have been paddling at the beach when he was hit by a large wave.

Following his death, Mr Swordy's friends launched a Twitter appeal to have the UK's bad weather named after him.

The emotional appeal, named #StormHarry, also encouraged people to donate to the RNLI who helped search for him.

In a blog post written for the appeal, Mr Swordy's friend Tom Luddington said he would be "so missed".

"Harry was such an amazing character, so full of life, warmth and plans for the future," Mr Luddington wrote.

"Harry, amongst other talents, was a professional story teller. His stories were full of beauty, wonder and they were clever and moving.

"We are campaigning that the storm, named by the US media as Hercules, be re-named Storm Harry in his memory.

"If feels right that a legend begin about wonderful Harry that he danced up the biggest storm ever, barefoot in the sea."

The inquest will take place in front of Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon at the Municipal Buildings in Truro, Cornwall, this morning.

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